When you work for yourself, it can be tempting to work all the hours under the sun. I’ve found that taking time out from the office screen can actually aid your work in the long run. Rather than jumping straight from one project to the next, giving yourself time to refocus and relax can benefit you. You can approach the next project with fresh eyes having removed yourself from the previous working you were doing. Consider how you feel when you come back from your lunch, you feel rejuvenated and ready to get back on with your work. Let’s have a look at some ideas of how you can refocus between your daily tasks.
Online Games
This is one of the things I love to do between projects. We use certain parts of our brain when we do work and other areas don’t get as much of a workout. By playing online games like Solitaire you can take on a new challenge. Complete the game and you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment and be on a ‘high’. There are so many different online games tat you can take part in which will keep you thinking, but remove our thoughts from the work you’ve just bee doing. Giving you a fresh and clear mind when you start work on the next project. There are loads of great games alongside Solitaire, which is and has always been my favourite. There are card games like hearts, candy crush style games which you might be familiar with and classics such as Pac Man.
Exercise
When was the last time you went for a run? Or had some time at the gym? Exercise is great for the mind, body and soul. It releases endorphins which make you feel great. Improve your health and reset your mind with some daily exercise. You don’t even have to hit the gym for a full workout session. A simple walk around the green space near your office is good enough. Stretch the legs, take in some fresh air, feel alive.
Grab A Coffee
Whether you have an inhouse kitchen where you can make a cup of tea or you usually head to the local coffee shop, getting yourself a drink is a great way to use time between projects. Some of the best ideas for work come when we are away from our desks and grabbing a drink will help you rehydrate and refocus. Heading to the local coffee house will remove you from where you do your work and it might even kickstart an idea based on something you see on the side of a bus, for example. Some of the best ideas come whilst we are enjoying a cappuccino and chatting with colleagues. You might come up with something you’d never have thought of if you stayed in the office. Some fresh air and a brew are so often underrated.
So often we find ourselves struggling to get into the next piece of work having finished a project. Our minds are ready for what is to come and jumping straight into it can actually lead to more time being spent on it as we cannot focus. By taking just five or ten minutes to step away from the screen, you can become more productive with he next job you have to tackle. Whether it’s online games like, a walk by the river or brewing up for your department, think about ways that you can refocus and get yourself ready for what you need to do. All work and no play isn’t the way to you. You need time for you too.
